Promise Boys

"I loved the multiple points of views and the depiction of how people tend to think the worst of Black and brown boys, even when there’s little to no evidence that they did anything wrong. A lot of people had opinions about the Promise Boys without actually knowing them. The author also did a great job of showing how harmful some charter schools can be that are supposed to be helping boys of color who are thought to be “at risk” and how systems continue to neglect and fail them. While all of these aspects of the book were good, the big murder reveal was lackluster and wasn’t very surprising. Overall, I give the book 3 ⭐️’s."

"Underrated book of the century! "

"Outstanding! Only down a star because of language. Also, the full cast audiobook is the only way to experience this book."

"This book is like concrete rose by Angie Thomas. But at the same time there totally different."

"Interesting, well written, easy to follow despite multiple character viewpoints. My only complaint is the ending ultimately felt abrupt and unfinished somehow."

"Hiding behind its pristine walls and sparkling reputation, Urban Promise Prep is considered the cornerstone of taking the underprivileged from their neighborhoods and getting them college-bound ready. But there is more to the elite school than the eyes can see.<br/><br/>4.9/5<br/><br/><br/><a href="https://ebookreview.dreamwidth.org/115744.html">Book Reviews</a> | <a href=" https://www.pillowfort.social/darkphoenix">Pillowfort</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Revengelyne">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2673832736">Bookbub</a> | <a href="https://spoutible.com/Utena">Spoutible</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/revengelyne/">Instagram</a>"

"While presenting as the formulaic teen whodunit genre that has become popular in recent years, Promise Boys does a few things that these other books don’t. It explores the challenges of young Black and Brown boys have by not being afforded the privilege of being innocent before proven guilty that their white counterparts receive; it delves into the lives of these boys who are raised by single-mothers or grandmothers or other father figures when the birth father is not in the home; and it reveals that these boys that society looks upon with fear and even disdain also have dreams and desires beyond their circumstances. The author gives each young man in Promise Boys a depth and level of self-awareness and introspection that may allow readers to look twice at a young man of similar circumstance upon their next encounter. Although you know from the onset the boys are not responsible for a crime they are accused of, I think the act of having them work together to clear their names was used as a way to demonstrate that contrary to the stereotypes the media would have us believe about our boys, they can work together and they do know how to coexist without violence. Even with the presence of a gang in the book, there is an act performed by the leader of the gang (who is a cousin to one of the accused Promise Boys), that shows that even those portrayed as having no future, do envision what the future could hold if not for themselves, then do those around them who they believe in. The only parts of the story I found troubling to read were the scenes where the boys were being interrogated by police. In light of the current climate of policing events, and the recent overturning of convictions based on illegal questioning and coerced statements, those scenes read as totally plausible. A pretty quick read, not too heavy, and ends with the “promise” that our Black and Brown boys can overcome any obstacle they encounter."